I must be dreaming… I just caught wind of an album that is in the process of being recorded between reggae royalty Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley and Rap legend Nas. Nas’s manager Anthony Saleh told Billboard.com that the two have been recording in Los Angeles for the past few months and the album was planned to drop in the spring with a tour in the summer. Damian has always said what a huge fan he is of Nas and the two paired up for “Road To Zion” which I think ranks in the top Reggae/ Hip-Hop collaborations of all time. It is the first time the link between the two genres has been made both lyrically and musically and has cemented Marley as a prominent figure in the Hip-Hop community. But a whole album!? I’m trying not to get too excited because some projects can get recorded but never released. One glaring reason that might happen is because both of the artists are signed to different labels. Nas has said that the album will be a community service project, with proceeds going towards building schools in Africa. That is righteous work indeed and should go a long way to making this album a reality. I will have my fingers crossed but if the album does manifest, I think it’s more reasonable to expect it in the Fall or early 2010. Check out the article on Billboard for more information.
Greetings, what a gwaan!?This is the point in the year that California Reggae fans start getting antsy because we wait patiently for the lineups of our Summer Reggae festivals. I’m especially excited for this year’s Sierra Nevada World Music Festival (SNWMF) after my first experience at the festival last year. As many of you know I have been going to Reggae on the River (Reggae Rising) for18 of my 23 years and have witnessed it transform into the biggest Reggae festival in the world. Though I am eternally grateful for Reggae Rising, it is safe to say that it has sacrificed a certain level of “Irieness” to exist in its current form. There was the bitter legal dispute with Reggae on the River, the constant price hikes changing the makeup of the attendees, and the infusion of rave music into the after hours scene. This is much different from the Roots Reggae and naked hippies that I remember from my youth. This has forced many Reggae purists to search elsewhere for the true Roots experience. Sierra Nevada World Music Festival has come to the rescue.Located at the Mendocino County Fairgrounds in the beautiful Anderson Valley, this festival has vowed to fill the Nyabinghi void. With tons of arts, crafts, food and kids activities, as well as two stages there is never a dull moment at SNWMF. Your first clue that you are at the right Reggae concert is when you see the elder Rasta community mixed with the expected college crowd. They are there for the music. SNWMF knows what their fans want with lineups cemented by legends of Reggae. 2009 is no exception. The preliminary lineup for this year includes Fema Kuti, King Sunny Ade, Michael Rose, Zap Mama, The Abyssinians, Michigan and Smiley, and Anthony B. There will be at least another dozen artists added before the party kicks off in June but I would say that that lineup alone is worth jumping on the special early bird tickets. Check out the Sierra Nevada World Music Festival web site for more information and I hope to see you there.***Recent Additions include the legendary Gregory Isaacs, The Itals, The Easy Star All-Stars, and Tarrus Riley.Jah Bless – One LovellCheck Some Videos from past years at SNWMF
Though Reggae enjoys a constant influx of new artists to discover, it is rare that a new band arrives on the scene. Rootz Underground has emerged as a very refreshing alternative to the riddim circuit and has several tracks that deserve anthem status on their debut album “Movement.” They hit the ground running with their single “Victims of a System” which I actually picked up on 7″ while at the Tuff Gong Studios in Jamaica last year. I originally picked it up to support my cousin, guitarist Jeffery Moss-Solomon but after I threw on the record I knew that that would only be a very fortunate side note because they had finally delivered the sound that Reggae purists were searching for. Hard hitting one drops and nyabinghi drums with some of the most righteous lyrics that I have heard in a while. And finally a band! After I picked up the album I was impressed with the consistency and sincerity of each of the track. My personal favorite is “Herb Fields” where singer Stephen Newland pays homage to his Rastafarian upbringing chanting, “the secret the my mama used to hide from me, I man must have been born inna herb fields.” Rastafarianism is a relatively new religion so it is is beautiful to see other youth that have been raised with consciousness. This song is important because it reveals his upbringing and honors his parents commitment to Rasta.
Reggae is a genre that is made to be played live. Many other genres use a lot of studio production when making an album and then have a hard time accurately depicting it in a live setting but Reggae is exactly the opposite. Roots Reggae was born out of the live sessions of Sly and Robbie and the Roots Radics and the members of Rootz Underground have clearly been paying attention. Their live performance is where they capture the true essence of the music and this is why they have enjoyed so much success. The talent and dedication of the band is evident immediately as they flow seamlessly from song to song and even add samples and live mixing to remix the album versions. They know that reggae fans will never complain of too much dub-wise. The primary reason I chose to highlight them now is because they are offering a free download of their latest release “Alive,” which captures the unique experience that is a Rootz Underground show. Please take this opportunity to support them and discover the next generation in Roots Reggae. I got big up all the members of the band and thank you for your contribution. For those of you in the Bay Area, you can join me at the Ragga Muffins Festival where Rootz Underground will be playing along with Stephen and Julian Marley, Lee Scratch Perry, and K’Naan.
